Yarn curl simulating a natural hair curl

ABSTRACT

A long self-retaining round curl made from a length of yarn which is first folded lengthwise upon an elongated cylindrical form providing a long U-shaped support for the remaining length of yarn wound spirally therearound to then form the round curl thereon. The outer sides of the U-shaped yarn support having been coated with an adhesive, the remaining length of yarn coiled thereon is quickly adhered thereto thus limiting tendency of the curl thus formed thereon to unwind or stretch. The long flexible round curl may then be secured to the base of a wig from one end or as desired.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,838,701 Underwood 1 1 Oct. 1, 1974 YARN CURL SIMULATING A NATURAL HAIR CURL Primary Examiner-G. E. McNeil Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bertha L. MacGregor [5 7] ABSTRACT A long self-retaining round curl made from a length of yarn which is first folded lengthwise upon an elongated cylindrical form providing a long U-shaped support for the remaining length of yarn wound spirally therearound to then form the round curl thereon. The outer sides of the U-shaped yarn support having been coated with an adhesive, the remaining length of yarn coiled thereon is quickly adhered thereto thus limiting tendency of the curl thus formed thereon to unwind or stretch. The long flexible round curl may then be secured to the base of a wig from one end or as desired.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures YARN CURL SIMULATING A NATURAL HAIR CURL This invention relates to an artificial curl made of yarn to simulate a natural hair round curl. The yarn may be cotton or other suitable material of the type known as rug yarn. Cotton yarn has been found preferable for the purposes of the invention. The curls made according to my invention are designed to be attached to the cap or base of a doll wig. The curls may be arranged in a hairdress on the wig base, or be attached thereto for hanging freely from the base.

The main object of the invention is to produce curls that simulate natural hair ringlets and return their intended form in use. Another object is to produce curls that vary in length, suitable for covering all or a part of a wig base, and having integral attaching means for fastening the curls to a wig base.

Another object is to provide built-in means that limit the tendency of a spirally wound curl to stretch lengthwise. This object is achieved by winding yarn on a temporarily supported looped U-shaped portion of a length of yarn, treated by applying a thin layer of adhesive material to the exposed surfaces of the looped portion, the yarn being wound around the looped U-shaped portion in contact with the adhesive so that the looped U- shaped portion within the round curl controls the length of the curl and prevents stretching of the curl lengthwise.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a yarn curl embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of part of the curl shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the method of making the curl by use of a support on which a portion of a length of yarn is temporarily supported.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a doll wig made of yarn curls embodying the invention, showing curls of varying lengths arranged and fastened on a wig cap or base (not shown) and other curls fastened to and hanging from the base at the sides and back of the wig.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the yarn curl as a whole consists of a length of yarn of the kind known as rug yarn which may be cotton or other suitable material, folded and temporarily held in U-shape with the aid of an elongated cylindrical form 11. The artificial curl comprises a free end 12 at one end of the yarn length, a looped portion 13 that is a continuation of the free end 12 arranged over the form 11 in contact with two opposite sides and with the end of the support. A portion 14, a continuation of the looped portion 13, is folded upon itself as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, preparatory to winding portions of the yarn to form the spiral windings 15. Before winding the parts 15, a thin layer of adhesive 16 is applied to the outer surfaces of the looped portion 13 on the form 11, to be contacted by the spiral windings 15. The length of yarn is cut when the spiral winding of the yarn has been completed at the end of the form 11. A dab of adhesive is applied to the end 17 which is tucked into the end of the curl as shown in FIG. 1.

The length of the curls may vary to facilitate their arrangement on the wig cap or base, as shown by the wig LII 20 of FIG. 3, where the curls 21 are arranged on and fastened to the top of the base. and free hanging curls 22 are attached to the sides and back of the wig base (not shown). As explained herein the free end portion 12 and the folded portion 14 of the length of yarn selected to make a curl constitute the means fastened to the wig base.

When natural hair is curled to produce "round" curls, there is a tendency of the curls to stretch lengthwise. The provision of the concealed U-shaped temporarily supported portion 13, with adhesive layer 16 which adheres to the windings l5, prevents stretching of the curls of my invention and preserves their intended form. 1 While difterent adhesive materials may be employed, I have found a fabric mending preparation sold under the trademark Patch and known as Devcon R] 30" is suitable and preferable for the purposes of this invention.

I claim:

1. A yarn curl simulating a natural long hair curl comprising a. a single length of yarn having a free upper end por-.

tion,

b. a looped portion which is part of the length of yarn temporarily supported in an elongated U-shape as long as the intended length of the curl. with the closed end of the U-shape at the lower end of the curl, said looped portion being integral with said free end portion.

0. adhesive material spread on said looped portion on its exposed surface,

(1. a portion of the yarn length extending beyond the looped portion loosely folded upon itself adjacent said free end, and

e. the remainder of the yarn length wound spirally in contact with the adhesive material on the looped portion, the terminal portion of the yarn length being tucked into the lower end of the wound curl and held adhesively therein.

2. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the length of yarn is made of cotton and is of the type known as rug yarn.

3. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the adhesive material is a fabric mender applied in a thin layer on said looped portion of the yarn length.

4. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the looped portion of the yam length limits the tendency of the curl to stretch lengthwise when free hanging, and said free end portion and said folded portion provide means for attaching the curl to a wig base.

5. A long, self-retaining round yarn curl which is freely supportable from one end, comprising a length of yarn having one end portion folded back adjacent itself to provide an elongated U-shaped part, the remainder of said yarn end being closely wound and attached to the spaced length of U-shaped parts at coiled spaced points to provide a long round self-retaining curl.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said wound coils of yarn are attached to said U-shaped parts by cement. 

1. A yarn curl simulating a natural long hair curl comprising a. a single length of yarn having a free upper end portion, b. a looped portion which is part of the length of yarn temporarily supported in an elongated U-shape as long as the intended length of the curl, with the closed end of the U-shape at the lower end of the curl, said looped portion being integral with said free end portion, c. adhesive material spread on said looped portion on its exposed surface, d. a portion of the yarn length extending beyond the looped portion loosely folded upon itself adjacent said free end, and e. the remainder of the yarn length wound spirally in contact with the adhesive material on the looped portion, the terminal portion of the yarn length being tucked into the lower end of the wound curl and held adhesively therein.
 2. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the length of yarn is made of cotton and is of the type known as rug yarn.
 3. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the adhesive material is a fabric mender applied in a thin layer on said looped portion of the yarn length.
 4. The yarn curl defined by claim 1, in which the looped portion of the yarn length limits the tendency of the curl to stretch lengthwise when free hanging, and said free end portion and said folded portion provide means for attaching the curl to a wig base.
 5. A long, self-retaining round yarn curl which is freely supportable from one end, comprising a length of yarn having one end portion folded back adjacent itself to provide an elongated U-shaped part, the remainder of said yarn end being closely wound and attached to the spaced length of U-shaped parts at coiled spaced points to provide a long round self-retaining curl.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which said wound coils of yarn are attached to said U-shaped parts by cement. 